Aston Villa 2 Sheffield United 2 Merry bloody Xmas Post Match thread.

[ChicagoLion]

Disapointed with the result more than the performance. We shot ourselves in the foot letting them back into it as early as we did and you could see them scoring everytime they broke in that first half. Second half was better and the ref definatley bottled the second yellow but 2-0 up, you should be going on to win.

We were more stable in the 2nd half, but we created barely anything. That’s a consistent theme with us and it continues to be not good enough. I genuinely think Bruce has no idea how to build a cohesive attacking plan. Hence putting Hogan on and having the team hoof it.

What I didnt get was the De Laet sub, unless Snodgrass had took a knock. He pushed Elmo further forward and ended up taking him off anyway.

It’s probably because Snodgrass was absolutely fucking rubbish, as he has been for weeks. Surely even you can see that.

Ohare no where near the squad and Snodgrass doing nothing but the first name on the team sheet.

[ChicagoLion]

The thoughts and opinions of Bruceosaurus

The apparent lack of concern is alarming.

[ciggiesnbeer]

What I didnt get was the De Laet sub, unless Snodgrass had took a knock. He pushed Elmo further forward and ended up taking him off anyway.

I didnt really understand that either. There were plenty of candidates to be subbed ahead of Snodgrass. Jedi is obvious but I think Hourihane aka "The Invisible Man" should have been in the mix.

[olaftab]

Dr Tony,  if you care about this club you bought,  then get rid of Bruce now.   

Yes.

[mr underhill]

I missed Milwall and for the first 15 minutes yesterday thought I was back in the PL. Then reality kicked in. Jedinack can't ever play in defense again. We need reinforcements in January and Terry back asap. Depending on who we bring in we might make the play offs, but I think it's obvious automatic promotion back to the gravy train is not going to happen.

[villabear]

Still bloody annoyed this morning. If we can't win a game after being 2-0 up after 9 minutes, well.
Random thoughts you might or might not agree with:
Grealish - Flatters to deceive. I appreciate he's got obvious talent but albeit a few fancy touches he frustrates the life out of me.
Snodgrass - gets picked, plays on the wrong side, does nothing. Gets subbed.
Davis - looks lost. Looks knackered. Needs a break (I know there's hardly a queue either)
O'Hare - where is he? Apparently he's banging on the first team door.
Hourihane - anonymous. For him see Lansbury.
Whelan - some games he's just what we need, a midfielder who sits, breaks up play, keeps it simple. Some games he looks like it's the first time he's ever seen a football.
Hogan - never going to do anything the way we play.
Agbonlahor - don't get me started.
Bruce - "wor this, wor that"  He's now got another coach in. A progressive move? I don't think so as it's Steve Agnew.


Rant over. Happy Christmas to you all! 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

[Mister E]

Just home.  Thoroughly nasty, frustrating pain of a game.  It's Christmas, we are at home, we badly need the points.  The game has gone flat.  We bring on Hogan and Agbonlahor.  Let's really bore the supporters to death.  Bring on Hogan and Agbonlahor.

For me the big picture is that we have players with serious attitude problems. They are not hungry enough.  Villa is not really where they want to be.  Villa are no more than a big fat pay check for their services.  Because they really can't be arsed they lack concentration and make elementary mistakes that lead to conceding soft goals.  We play without heart and we have no team spirit.  I think Snodgrass, Whelan, Jedinak and Hogan hold the club and the fans in something very close to contempt.

I don’t think it’s fair to pin point Hogan really, given that Bruce adopts a “strategy” that would undermine any strengths he has.

And, when the heads go it's usually because the players have lost faith with the manager and his lack of inspiration and capability.
The club needs a builder-craftsman as manager, not a jouneyman; to build from the bottom up with youngsters and clever purchases (i.e. not just throwing money at a problem and bringing in overpaid players with nothing to prove).

[Mister E]

...

We don’t work hard enough to move the opposition around to create space for a forward pass, we are too slow at moving the ball and too predictable...  There is not enough hunger and determination in the team, we need some young fearless players to come in and shake things up.

Been saying it for weeks now. The points you make are so friggin' obvious to anyone watching our games: why is that our professional management team don't see it??!
The squad seems to have a fitness problem compounded by a coaching deficit ...

[PeterWithe]

Was Ohoaha (sp?) injured or just given a well needed break? And has Hutton been suspended for games, he’s been the best player over the last games I’ve watched so surprised to see him on the bench.

[olaftab]

Brian I agree in as much that our approach is all wrong to get the Club back to where we need to be. The signings have been awful and top heavy wages wise. The acrid smell around the place refuses to go away. We needed a totally different approach and sadly even Dr Xia has failed to deliver that. His appointment of Whyness and Co is not bearing fruit.

[Bad English]

A progressive move? I don't think so as it's Steve Agnew.

Consilio non impetu.

[Rudy65]

The only positive I took from that game:

Seconds after going 2-0 up I said to my deliriously happy son "Don't get too excited, mate. We'll end up losing this 3-2."

This! I said exactly the same to my nine year old daughter at exactly the same time.. her retort.. i know villa are crap.

My son said we were goong to thrash them after our second!

[frank black]

I thought we were going to win, until Bruce’s substitutions made us look devoid of any shape and seemed desperate.

Bruce and Jedi in the doghouse for me.

[Rudy65]

Clayton fcukin Donaldson enough said.  Fcukin Clayton bastard Donaldson.  Considered not good enough for bottom of the table Small Heath.

He took his goals, especially the first, really well. Harry Kane scores the first and the pundits would be Replaying it countless times. He also didnt celebrate in front of the Holte unlike Deeney. Fair play

[Rudy65]

Absolute bomb scare. They shouldn’t have been near the ball for 15 minutes after we scored the second, yet we leave the door wide open and thereby undo all the good work up til then. It worries me greatly that our coaching set up is 100% defensive by nature (by that I mean personnel), yet we can’t hold on to a two goal lead at home. What’s more, who the fuck coaches us going forward?

I think Bruce’s days are numbered...5 games without a win and counting...

And we know have Steve Agnew on the coaching staff. Another lazy, jobs for the boys appointment. What about appointing someone who might be totally different to what we have and introduce some new ideas?